Team Alaska remains in 3rd place
Team Alaska remained in third place Thursday afternoon at the 2004 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The Yukon team led the Games with 62 medals, while Northern Alberta was ranked second with 56. Team Alaska had earned a total of 55 ulu medals, including 18 gold, 19 silver and 18 bronze

Financial planning has extra twists for gay boomers
NEW YORK (AP) As retirement draws nearer for baby boomer couples, many are scrambling to understand insurance, investments, Social Security and wills. For those who are in same-sex relationships, the difficulties multiply.

What's really driving stock buybacks?
NEW YORK (AP) Stock buybacks seem like they can only be a boon to investors they boost share prices and give each remaining shareholder a bigger piece of the corporate pie.

Winning tradition
The tiny town of Ninilchik had reason to celebrate this week, as one of their own returned from Anchorage with the title of champion.

Ramy's on the run again
FAIRBANKS Ramy Brooks has been counting every second as he tries to take the final step into the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner's circle. Brooks has long been a spectacle at the checkpoints of long-distance races as he maniacally but methodically beds down his dogs, tends to their injuries and prepares a meal.

Warren is oldest Iditarod rookie
ANCHORAGE Jim Warren's crystal ball was cloudy the day his wife spotted a musher driving a truck down a Michigan road, the dogs peeking out from a box in the back.

Guides take issue with story in 'Changing Times' section
The Kenai River Professional Guide Associ-ation would like to express disappointment in Matt Tunseth's Feb. 26 article entitled, "It's not all fish and fun." Every other article in the Clarion's "Changing Times on the Kenai Peninsula" section casts a positive light on local industries, using optimistic titles such as, "Branding project revitalizing inlet fishing industry," "Wild places boost economy," "Mixing up own recipe for success" and "Real estate moves at healthy pace," while our industry is summed up by Mr. Tunseth with "It's not all fish and fun."

Smart move, quick response save home
A smart move by a Soldotna man and a quick response by Central Emergency Services combined to save a $170,000 house at Marydale Avenue and Fireweed Street from burning Thursday afternoon.

Carl Henry Wetzel
Kenai resident Carl Henry Wetzel died Wednesday, March 3, 2004, at Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna. He was 75.

Valerie Jean Page
Kenai resident Valerie Jean Page died Wednesday, March 3, 2004, after a long struggle with cancer at her home. She was 66.

Adrian Reeve Doxsee
Kenai resident Adrian Reeve Doxsee died Monday, March 2, 2004, of hypothermia on Skilak Lake near Sterling. He was 55.

Race for White House now begins in earnest
The race for the Democratic nomination for president ended Tuesday night. Sen. John Kerry won convincingly in most of the 10 states holding primaries New York among them. More important than his victories, perhaps, was the word that his main rival, Sen. John Edwards, would quit the race.

Artificial reef provides habitat for exploration
JUNEAU The divers love it and the marine life seems to be enjoying it too. Since the October sinking of the 48-foot motorsailor Rikki Tikki off Auke Village Recreation Area, Alaska's first artificial reef has taken on a life of its own.

Refuge sponsors birding hotline
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is sponsoring a hotline for rare or interesting bird sightings. If you have spotted a rare bird or would like to hear what other bird watchers have seen recently, call 262-2300.

Volunteers sought to patrol Chugach
Trail ranger volunteers are being sought to assist backcountry trail rangers in providing information to the public about recreational opportunities and regulations, cleaning c

Around the Peninsula
League plans meeting
Parenting workshop set
Community science evening planned
Peace choir slide show scheduled
Kids invited to cheer camp
Young women's conference slated for Saturday
Church to hold dinner
Nikiski talent show slated

Facing abuse allegation, Albany bishop fights back in public
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard has never shied away from a fight, and now the spiritual leader of 400,000 Roman Catholics in upstate New York is waging an unusually public campaign against sexual misconduct allegations to save his career

Gay Episcopal bishop declines all overseas speeches
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson is avoiding all speeches outside the United States until a commission finishes studying the effect of his consecration as the Anglican Communion's first openly gay leader.

Kings throttle Sixers
PHILADELPHIA Peja Stojakovic scored 22 of his 27 points in the first half and Chris Webber had 24 points and 10 assists, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 114-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.

SI strikes again
The first thing I noticed when the Alaska installment of Sports Illustrated's "50 States in 50 Weeks" arrived in the office was that the musher on the cover wrap, identified as 2003 Iditarod winner Robert Sorlie, was not, in fact, Sorlie.